Who we are at UCB

2026. We continued to build toward the future through the acquisitions of IMIDomics, Neurona Therapeutics and Candid Therapeutics. 

We also entered a global licensing agreement with Antengene to help broaden access to innovative therapies and support growth in key markets.

2025. We reached an important milestone with the approval, in both the European Union and the United States, of a treatment for people living with thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d), a rare and severe genetic mitochondrial disorder with significant unmet need.

2023. We expanded our work in immunology with a growing Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) portfolio, offering new treatment options to people living with this rare and chronic neuromuscular disease.

2022. We strengthened our rare disease portfolio through the acquisition of Zogenix, adding an innovative treatment for rare epilepsy syndromes and reinforcing our commitment to people living with severe neurological disorders.

2021. We reached a significant breakthrough with the launch of the first IL-17A/F inhibitor for inflammatory diseases.

We also accelerated the digital transformation of our R&D through a strategic drug discovery collaboration with Microsoft, leveraging AI and advanced data analytics.

2020. We broadened our innovation pipeline through the acquisitions of Engage Therapeutics, Ra Pharma and Handl Therapeutics, adding valued expertise in gene therapy, rare diseases and next-generation treatment platforms.

2008–2019. We deepened our commitment in neurology and immunology, developing and launching several core medicines that respond to major unmet needs in areas such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

The early 21st century. In these years we began a thoughtful transformation into a pure biopharma company.

We were proud to welcome new expertise through the acquisition of Celltech, a British biotech firm, in 2004, and the German pharma company Schwarz Pharma in 2006.

The 1980s and 1990s. A meaningful breakthrough arrived in the 1980s when we registered a novel antihistamine. A blockbuster was born, helping to further raise the profile of the company. 

A second blockbuster, an antiepileptic drug, was launched in the 1990s, spurring further global growth.

The early decades. Emmanuel Janssen created UCB in Brussels in the 1920s.

Our company grew and entered the US market in the 1930s. 

Our scientists reached their first therapeutic breakthroughs in the 1950s, and in the 1960s we began looking ahead with early research into biotechnology.